Never The End (Sequel to 'What Keeps You Alive')

Chapter 17: Not Out of the Woods Yet

--------Chapter 17: Not Out of the Woods Yet----

Gates stayed with his back against the tree, Matt doing the same a few trees over from him. Gates winced a bit as he shifted, the pain in his shoulder still there. It hadn't lessened and it wasn't about to by the looks of it. The two of them stayed quiet, hearing someone moving through the woods not far from where they were stationed.

"Why's Bennett even want these guys?" one of the guys asked, Gates holding his shoulder and seeing Matt watching what was happening not far from them.

"Who cares?" the other guy answered, leaves and sticks alike crunching as they both walked. "Just doing as the boss says. We hit one of them so they couldn't've gotten far."

The sun had come up less than an hour ago and now they were more likely to be seen. Gates looked to Matt who in turn returned the look. Matt just gave him a shrug, Gates indicating that they needed to move again soon so that they weren't seen.

Matt gave a nod back, switching his gaze back to where the two men were still searching.

"How're we even gonna find them in here?" one asked, looking down at the ground for any sign that Matt and Gates had even come through this way. "They could be anywhere in here by now; it's a big area."

"They won't be far," the other guy reassured as Matt quietly moved around the tree to avoid being seen. "I'm surprised we haven't found them already; they clearly know how to avoid people out here."

Matt indicated for Gates to move, seeing the opportunity and not wanting to miss it. Gates did as told, Matt not far behind.

"Quick, there!" one of the guys shouted, clearly having looked in the right direction at the right moment.

"Shit, run!" Matt called to Gates who didn't even need to be told.

A shot sounded, hitting the ground right where Matt had been moments before.

"You can't outrun us forever!" one of them shouted as another shot went off.

"God, they must be nearly outta bullets by now," Gates commented as a shot hit the tree mere metres from his head. "Jesus Christ."

"Hopefully they waste the remainder on being bad shots," Matt said in return. "We need to go further in, hope they lose us again. We can't risk the road; too open."

Gates gave a nod of agreement. "Split?"

Matt nodded in return. "Split."

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"You think they're gone?" Andy asked, his voice down as both he and Ashley stayed where they were just on the other side of the small hill, hopefully unable to be seen.

Ashley shook his head slowly, keeping a watch from the way they'd recently come.

"I dunno," he said back, his voice down. "We haven't seen or heard any sign of them for at least an hour now; we might be in the clear."

Someone suddenly appeared next to Andy, ducking down behind the small hill with them. It was Gates. Ashley went to say something, but Gates indicated for him to be silent, indicating over the way he'd just come from. Ashley looked over to where he'd indicated, seeing two men slowing their pace and halting, looking around.

Ashley looked to Gates who leant back against the dirt and grass of the hill, holding his shoulder. Gates didn't even acknowledge him, instead just watching the two men look around; the three of them were out of sight for the most part.

"Where'd he go?" one of the men asked the other, looking for any sign of Gates. "He was right here!"

The other man shook his head.